2017
Theme
Reflections
You can find a reflection
on
the
Congress 2017 theme online. And, new this
year, we have also posted a reflection
on the theme for Youth Day 2017.
Read
the
Reflections
»

What
is Congress?
Begun as an Institute in 1956, our first
event was held at Mount Carmel High
School on Hoover Street in Los Angeles.
There were some 500 teachers and
catechists in attendance at the two-day
conference, listening to speakers and
gaining experience from other teachers.
Read about the Congress Milestones
here.

Find
us online:

RECongress speakers announced
Our planning is fully underway
for the 2017 Los Angeles Religious
Education Congress. We are in the
process of updating our
web site with information about our
speakers and their workshops, our liturgies
and celebrants, and our concerts and
artists. Also, consider staying in
Anaheim this year with the special rates
being offered for attendees by some of
the surrounding hotels.

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Registration The
key
to registration
is the
Registration
Guidebook,
which
contains
all
workshop
and
speaker
descriptions,
entertainment
and
liturgy
options,
and
all
events
during
Congress.
If you
attended
RECongress
2016,
you
will
automatically
be mailed
a Registration
Guidebook.
If you
need
a Guidebook,
please
order
one
here.
(Guidebooks
will
be available
in October.)
Order
a Guidebook
»

Special Hotel
Rates AnnouncedWe
invite you to consider staying in Anaheim
for RECongress this year. There are some
nearby hotels that have contracted special
rate offerings for attendees. To get the
quoted rates, be sure to inform the hotel
that you are attending the 2017 Religious
Education Congress and ask for the REC or
Religious Education Congress Block Group
Rate. Note: Make your reservations directly
with the listed hotel properties.
See the Hotel Listing here »

Youth
Day Featured Speaker: Anne Frawley-ManganBased
in Brisbane, Australia, Anne
Frawley-Mangan
is an experienced
educator, presenter, writer and artist, who
specializes in using the Arts (particularly
drama) to enhance religious education and
liturgy. She presents workshops and keynotes
nationally and internationally as well as
World Youth Days in the diocese.
Frawley-Mangan currently is Creative
Director of Litmus Productions and teaches
at Holy Spirit Seminary in Queensland and
Australian Catholic University in Sydney.Imagine That! Praying with Our
ImaginationAlbert Einstein said that imagination is
more important than knowledge, and this is
so true when it comes to prayer! Join Anne
Frawley-Mangan on a creative journey through
a variety of prayer styles that engage your
imagination. Come to this fun and
interactive workshop ready to move, play,
pray … and be still, as we make space to
encounter our awesome God!See
some of our Congress Speakers »

Congress Featured Speaker: Tom East
Over the three days, Congress 2017 will offer
over 300 workshops presented by more than
200 speakers. Topics range from personal
growth to music to spiritual topics — in
English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Each
Emailing we spotlight one of our speakers:

Tom
EastBased in Washington state, Tom East is
Director of the Center for Ministry
Development. He previously served as
Director of Youth Ministry and Associate
Director of Religious Education for the Los
Angeles Archdiocese. East is a popular
speaker at major youth ministry, religious
education and catechetical conferences
across the country, as well as those
sponsored by the Center for Ministry
Development. He is editor and author of
numerous books, including “Leadership for
Catholic Youth Ministry.”

Ministry with Gen Z – There’s an App for
That! Here comes Generation Z, which includes
youth born in the mid- to late-1990s, mostly
to Gen X parents. These young people are
tech savvy, social innovators and anxious to
create a customized way to belong and
contribute. How can we create pathways and
onramps for Gen Z youth so that we can share
the Good News and include their many gifts
and their seemingly boundless energy? How
can we make a faith connection with Gen X
parents? This workshop will share the
research about Gen Z youth and their
families along with starting points for
making the connection.

A Sower Went Out to Sow: A Spirituality
for Young Adults in Ministry Ministry leaders and catechists draw
upon wells that are full and help others
grow in faith and friendship with Christ.
This workshop will provide a “mini-retreat”
for young adults who are catechists and
ministry leaders. We will look at the
Scripture of the Sower and the Seed in new
ways that remind us of our call to be close
to the Sower, to become the Seed of Good
News and to take time to nourish the Soil of
our personal prayer and spirituality. See
some of our Congress Speakers »

Liturgy
Spotlight:
Liturgies AnnouncedThe liturgies at Congress are designed to
enhance our attendees’ experience. At last
year’s Congress, we introduced liturgies of
a particular emphasis or need. This year,
with Congress falling in Ordinary Time, we
have the opportunity to explore other themes
and needs in ways that we normally could not
do so during Lent. In addition, we are
adding a new dimension by inviting certain
cultural communities to prepare Masses for
particular needs – benefitting from the
unique ways in which these communities
worship and integrate their culture into
prayer, the songs they choose and the
motivation behind the idea for the Mass.
See the Listings of Scheduled Liturgies »

Congress
Spotlight: Archbishop Congress ChatFriday,
February 24, 10:15-11:00 am – Tech Center @
Hall A• See past
Congress Chats
Each year at the Religious Education
Congress, Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez
conducts a live online chat session from the
Tech Center in Hall A. What began as a
(typing) chat session has evolved into a
video chat with students from a selected
school within the Archdiocese. This year
will be the Archbishop's seventh annual live
from Congress.
Watch last year's Video Chat »

A Look Back
— RECongress 2007YOUTH
DAY 2007Thursday, March 1, 2007APeX Ministries
Session C - LIVING OUT LOVE: CARING FOR
OTHERS
More powerful than his words were Jesus’
actions. He came with a radical message of
love. But he didn’t just talk about it, he
lived it out in the way he cared for others.
Join APeX as they explore, in their unique
way, what it means to follow Jesus’ example
by being a servant to others.
APeX Ministries
APeX, aka Gene Monterastelli and Brad
Farmer, are two young men who make their
living by criss-
crossing North America as evangelists. They
use a unique presentation style they call
Christian Vaudeville, which includes
death-defying juggling, humor, sketch
comedy, storytelling, audience participation
and personal testimony. They have been
throwing things at each other
(professionally) since 1996. Gene one day
hopes to compete in the Olympics in
synchronized swimming. Brad
is very strong!

2007
SUNDAY ADDRESSSunday, March 4, 2007Jim Wallis“How Might Spiritual Revival Cause
Change?”From Ireland’s Bono to Britian’s Gordon
Brown to a new global generation, poverty is
focusing and energizing the faith of many
around the world and in the United States.
For the first time in history we have the
information, knowledge, technology and
resources to bring the worst of global
poverty virtually to an end. What we don’t
have is the moral and political will to do
so. How might spiritual revival cause such
social change?Jim WallisAuthor, preacher and activist, Jim
Wallis is Editor in Chief of Sojourners
magazine and Convener of the Call to Renewal
Network. A regular contributor on ethics and
public life for MSNBC Online, Wallis is also
author of numerous books and columns that
have appeared in hundreds of newspapers and
magazines.

Discount
Disney Resort TicketsReligious
Education Congress attendees can purchase
specially priced Disneyland resort eTickets,
including Twilight Convention tickets (after
4 pm), 1-day 1-park, multi-day and park
hopper tickets.
The eTickets are valid from Friday,
February 18, 2017 to Tuesday, February 28,
2017. This offer is only available
online and is not available at the Park.
Order online at
mydisneygroup.com/recongress2017.
Read about the Disney Ticket offer »

Just for Southern Californians Ralphs
Grocery
Company, the Southern California
supermarket chain,
has a program to non-profit organizations with
annual contributions.
We invite you to register and/or re-register
your
Ralphs Rewards Card to benefit the
RECongress. The current term began
September 1 and runs through August 31,
2017.
You may do that online or or by
calling (800) 443-4438.
This is an annual program that must be
renewed each year.
Even if you registered as recently as June, July or
August, you will need to register
again in this new term.
See Instructions for the Ralphs Program»»

Our Web Site
- RECongress.org
You can find all Congress information and
updates online. Our RECongress
Emailings feature some
Congress Spotlights
and we will
be adding speaker
and hotel information.
Check our site
for the latest updates
and announcements.

RECongress Emailing
Be sure to sign-up
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Emailing about
Congress updates
and events.
You may opt
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Our Emailings
for Congress
2017 are scheduled
through
March 2018.